As the Pirates' bullpen setup clarifies, the mystery of starter Gerrit Cole grows more murky.

Expected to regain his 2015 All-Star form after battling injuries last season, the right-hander pitched effectively during the first 1 1/2 months, but has since gone backward. His ERA has grown from 2.84 in mid-May to 4.83 heading into his start Tuesday against Colorado at PNC Park.

Cole (3-6) allowed seven earned runs in each of his two previous starts and 23 in his last four, covering 19 2/3 innings. He attributes the problem to lack of consistency in his delivery.

"It's not happening," he said. "It's not very good. I haven't really gone through something like this before."

Unless Cole reverses the trend against the potent Rockies, it might be a long night for the Pirates' bullpen, which recently experienced its own problems when closer Tony Watson blew saves in successive games last week. Exit Watson and enter left-hander Felipe Rivero, who was having a stellar season in a setup role. Rivero, whose nasty changeup accompanies a 100-mph fastball, responded with consecutive four-out saves against Miami on Saturday and Sunday.

Manager Clint Hurdle, however, won't pin the closer label on Rivero. Righty Juan Nicasio, another reliever doing splendid work, also will get a chance to close games out. Hurdle intimated the two nearly are interchangeable.

"Nicasio or Rivero are the guys we're going to look to to post up late, based on availability," he said. "We anticipate using them just like that. We're going to use the bullpen to win games, not to collect and count saves."

Three things to know about this game

• Chatwood has allowed a .216 expected batting average on the road this year, compared with .275 at home, numbers based on the quality of contact made against him, according to Statcast. That 59-point gap is easily the biggest among Rockies starters, while teammates Antonio Senzatela, Tyler Anderson and Kyle Freeland all have posted a lower xBA at home.

• Cole has given up eight home runs in his past four starts. He yielded seven home runs in nine previous appearances.

• Hurdle won 534 games as manager of the Rockies from 2002-09. He exceeded that total with the Pirates earlier this month, and had 537 entering Tuesday's game against this former club. He has managed the Pirates since 2011.

I was bar tending last night and it was cool to look up and see the Cup in the house and everyone being so eager to get a snapshot with it. The before the game looks they showed of the Pens and Pirates players interacting were great. Exchanging autographs and mugging for pictures with the cup. I am willing to say that that game was a good time had by both teams players and the people in attendance. I am actually gonna download it so I can hear the announcers talk about it.

Hockey is over so I guess it is time to follow baseball until camp starts up.